If you could only have 2 light modifiers - which would they be?

[morgan_moore]

Then why do photographers use them so much?

I don’t really know having been a tog for a while maybe cos they came free with a Bowen’s pack of three lights?

Of course soft boxes are more efficient and more controlled.

It’s actually more that trucks don’t have them because they don’t easily work with hot lights

 

[Liam Hall]

What I don't yet know, because I have not bought it yet, is if my barndoors that came
with the light will fit onto the Fresnel attachment or if I have to also buy the Aputure barndoors that are designed to fit onto their Fresnel lens. I'll find out when I order it.

Yes, they fit.

 

[morgan_moore]

In my photography i transitioned from boxes 2.2ft to a 6.4 lasto having bought a big box (Profoto) which I found too difficult to set or move

 

[Run&Gun]

I don’t really know having been a tog for a while maybe cos they came free with a Bowen’s pack of three lights?

Of course soft boxes are more efficient and more controlled.

It’s actually more that trucks don’t have them because they don’t easily work with hot lights

I disagree. Otherwise Chimera wouldn’t still be here and kicking for 40 years.

 

[puredrifting]

I disagree. Otherwise Chimera wouldn’t still be here and kicking for 40 years.

I agree, I have a Medium Chimera Quartz Pro that I bought 25 years ago. Still going strong. A grip once let a hot Mighty Mole somehow lay on it and it
burned a hole through it. I sent it back to Chimera in Colorado and they affected a nice patch using the same material that the box was made with. The only
things I don't like about the Chimera is that the four rods into a speed ring is more of a PITA and time consuming than the click out the 16 rods that are affixed
to the Bowens ring on the new Chinese Parabolic softbox.

I've used this sofbox with dozens of big HMIs, Tungsten and LEDs over the years, it always worked great with them, other than when a red hot barndoor or light
housing was actually laid on it. The times I've seen softboxes used on big sets, they were always the same Chimera Quartz Pros I have. I also have three of the
Chimera Quartz Pros but in small and I've used those for decades as well. They all work great with big lights, but with LEDs, I much prefer these new Chinese
cheap ones, they are deeper, round, much cheaper and quicker to put up and take down and I like round catchlights. The Bowens mounting system makes speedrings
and four rod systems look pretty primitive.

 

[morgan_moore]

Of course one can pick a hole in any 'argument' as lighting is a big formula of floor space vs illumination vs base colour vs cost vs 10 other things

Im sure Chimeras are great

In terms of giving the OP advice Im in the scrims and reflectors school, having started in boxes school, others vary.

I think the coolness (lack of heat) of LED lights affects the methods of diffusion as both polies and diff can be used closer if needed to save space or a harder ight.

 

[puredrifting]

Of course one can pick a hole in any 'argument' as lighting is a big formula of floor space vs illumination vs base colour vs cost vs 10 other things

Im sure Chimeras are great

In terms of giving the OP advice Im in the scrims and reflectors school, having started in boxes school, others vary.

I think the coolness (lack of heat) of LED lights affects the methods of diffusion as both polies and diff can be used closer if needed to save space or a harder ight.

Agreed. Yes, the COB lights generate some heat but as far as the heat, the softbox receives almost none compared to a Tungsten instrument. That's why they can make these nice
ones so cheap, they don't need the fireproof layers of fabrics that the Chimeras for hot lights must have. The other benefit is that a Medium Chimera is heavy and mounting it on a
light without a super heavy duty yolk means the light will probably sag under the weight of trying to hold up that Chimera.

So I end up mounting the Chimera and speedring on a C-stand and the light(s) on other stands that are butted up against the speed ring. It makes the floor and moving the light a mess,
especially on small, tight sets. The new Chinese system eliminates all of that mess, which I am loving and my gaffers are too. I just bought the new Godox VL300 and it has the best tie down
knob system I've seen on a smaller light, it's like an Arri style toothed rosette with two rubber washers. You don't even have to crank down on it very hard and it easily holds the 47" parabolic softbox in any position you'd like.

 

[ahalpert]

That Godox VL300 looks pretty cool - can you run it at full power using batteries with high enough output?

I have a Godox sl-150. Have you used the SL series? Any thoughts on how they compare?

Man, Chinese manufacture lighting used to be cheaper and lower quality. Now it's practically cheaper and higher quality (or at least innovative designs - I'm not sure the durability is there yet)